Film processor

ABSTRACT

An automatic film processor has temperature-controlled containers for processing materials, solenoid-operated valves to admit the processing materials to a film-holding chamber on a timed schedule, an agitator for the film chamber, and a drain system. The operations are synchronized by a timer switch, and the machine preferably includes a driven mechanism for loading the film into the film chamber, and receptacles indexed under the drain to collect different processing materials after each step of the processing.

United States Patent 1 Peres [45] Feb. 12, 1974 FILM PROCESSOR [75] Inventor: Anthony R. Peres, Bristol, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Peres Electronics, Inc., Bristol, N.Y. I

[22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 317,204

[52] US. Cl. 95/99, 95/89 R [51] Int. Cl. G 03d 3/04 [58] Field of Search 95/89 R, 96, 97, 98, 99

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,438,317 4/1969 Merolli et al. 95/89 R X 3,437,030 4/1969 Mastrosimone et al. 95/93 2,544,644 3/1951 Allen 95/93 X 3,280,716 lO/l966 Gall 95/89 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,459,755 10/1966 France 95/89 R Primary Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge W. Shaw [57] ABSTRACT An automatic film processor has temperaturecontrolled containers .forprocessing materials, solenoid-operated valves to admit the processing materials to a film-holding chamber on a timed schedule, an agitator for the film chamber, and a drain system. The operations are synchronized by a timer switch, and the machine preferably includes a driven mechanism for loading the film into the film chamber, and receptacles indexed under the drain to collect different processing materials after each step of the processing.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEBI 2:914 3192,48?

saw a or 4 PATENTEU FEB 1 2:914

SHEET "4 [if Q TEMPERATURE CONTROL SUPPLY CHAMBER SOLENOID VALVES SECOND STOP WASH BLEACH STABELIZER MAIN DRIVE MOTOR DRAiN RECEPTACLE COLOR DEVELOPER COLOR DEVELOPER WASH FIRST STOP FIRST DEVELOPER NEUTRALIZER PREHARDNER FILM PROCESSOR THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Fully automatic film processing equipment such as available for commerical installations is prohibitively expensive and large for amateur or home use. The simpler processing equipment available for home or studio use still requires considerable manual intervention and control by the operator. The invention recognizes a need for a semi-automatic or fully automatic film processor that is simple enough and inexpensive enough for home use and that still accomplishes automatic film processing for both color and black and white films without requiring much operator intervention. The inventionseeks simplicity, economy, reliability, and effectiveness in a film processor that is versatile, automatic, easy to operate, convenient, compact, and feasible for home or studio use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive processor has chambers in an upper region of a cabinet for holding materials for processing film and includes a temperature control system for the chambers. A solenoid-actuated valve in the bottom of each of the chambers opens to passageways leading from the chambers to a funnel, and a film holding chamber is below the funnel to receive processing materials. An agitator drives the film holding chamber to contact the film with the processing materials, and a drain system allows drainage of the materials from the film holding chamber. All the operations are controlled by an electric timer switch having a pre-selected program.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3 3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3'taken along the line 4 4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 taken along the line 5 5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a preferred device for loading film into a film holding chamber in the inventive processor; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical operation of the illustrated embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The drawings illustrate various aspect of one preferred processor 10 even though many variations can be made on the same basic concepts. Processor 10 is arranged in a cabinet 21 having containers or chambers 11 in its upper region and opening at the top for filling with materials for processing photographic film. The number of chambers 20 required for any particular processing varies with the film being processed, but 10 chambers as illustrated is adequate for most color and black and white film processing operations. Each of the chambers 11 20 is formed as a container as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and is surrounded by a ribbon heater strip 22 for controlling the temperature of the contents of each chamber. Various temperature control means are available including a single temperature controller 23 having-a probe 24 sensing the temperature of one of the chambers 16 or individual temperature controllers 25 monitoring and controlling the temperature in each of the chambers 11 20. Either temperature control system is preferably activated through main timer switch when processor 10 is turnedon.

Chambers 11 20 each have a bottom valve 26 that fits in a valve seat 27 and has a stem 28 operated by a solenoid 29 for opening or closing each chamber. Solenoids 29 are operated by main timer switch 30 for opening the valve 26 of any particular chamber 11 20 to admit its processing material to a filmstrip to be processed as described below.

A passageway pan 31 underlies chambers 1 1 20 and valves 26 and has shallow passageways 32 leading from under each valve 26 to a funnel 33. Passageways 32 and funnel 33 are designed to drain any processing material from any chamber 11 20 downward with minimum residue remaining in pan 31 or funnel 33.

A sleeve 34 is movably fitted over the bottom of funnel 33 and is driven in an arcuate reciprocal motion by connecting rod 35 from a main drive motor 36. A film holding chamber 37 is keyed to sleeve 34 for reciprocating in an arc with sleeve 34. Film chamber 37 has grooves for holding a coiled strip of photographic film 40, and processing material passing down through funnel 33 and sleeve 34 fills up the inside of chamber 37 and contacts film 40 as chamber 37 is agitated by connecting rod 35.

A drive motor 41 drives a pulley 42 that advances film 40 into chamber 37 through an input guide 43. As best shown in FIG. 6 drive rollers 44 advance filmstrip 40 and strip off backing paper 45. The emulsion side of filmstrip 40 preferably faces inward in chamber 37 and any backing paper 45 is removed as filmstrip 40 is fed into chamber 37. The drive for feeding filmstrip 40 into chamber 37 can also be provided by main drive motor 36 if desired, and other means are available for loading film 40 into chamber 37.

The drain 46 from chamber 37 is preferably Y- shaped as illustrated, and each leg of the Y is controlled by a solenoid-actuated valve 47 or 48. Drain line 49 leads to an external sink or drain, and in simpler versions of the invention, drain line 49 and valve 48 are sufficient. Drain line 50 is used to recover and recycle processing materials that are collected in receptacle containers 51 arranged on a turntable 52 that is indexed by a motor 53 turning a friction drive roller 54 under control of main switch 30. Containers 51 are then indexed under drain 50 as desired for collecting each processing material that is recyclable. The doors 55 of cabinet 21 can be opened to remove receptacles 51 and pour their contents back into chambers 11 20 as appropriate. An extra supply of rinse water is contained in chamber 56 if necessary, and water from container 56 preferably drains into pan 31 under control of main switch 30.

As shown in FIG. 7, main timer switch 30 controls the operations of the inventive processor. Switch 30 can be set to actuate the temperature control system through a single controller 23 or individual controllers 25 to heat the contents of chambers 11 20 to the desired temperature for processing film. Film is manually threaded into the film loading device and either through main drive motor 36 or film loading motor 41 is driven into chamber 37, preferably under control of switch 30. Then switch 30 can be set for the processing steps desired and examples of these are indicated in FIG. 7. The intervals for each step of the process are preferably selectively variable on sophisticated versions of the invention, but predetermined intervals can be used for most film processing. Switch 30.then runs through its preset program to open valves 26 in a prearranged sequence to admit processing materials to film chamber 37, to agitate film chamber 37 for contact with the processing materials, and to open and close drain valves 47 and 48 as appropriate to drain away or collect each processing material. When the cycle is completed film 40 is removed from chamber 37 completely processed.

The inventive processor can process either color or black and white film and can accommodate many different sizes and types of film merely be fitting a different chamber 37 on keyed sleeve'34. It automatically controls the proper preheating of processing materials, and all the timing and contacting of the film with materials. It also automatically drains away Waste material such as rinse water and collects and saves recyclable chemicals. Also, once the processing materials are loaded into chamber 11 20 and the film is threaded into the loading device, processor accomplishes all the remaining processing steps fully automatically. Furthermore, processor 10 is readily varied as to materials and timing of sequences and can be made simply for routine processing or more sophisticated for variations and refinements in processing procedures. Moreover, processor 10 remains simple enough and economical enough for home or studio use by amateurs or photographers whose processing work does not justify prior art automatic equipment.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will understand various heating systems, valve arrangements, drive mechanisms, film loaders and chambers, and drain arrangements usable within the inventive concept.

I claim:

1. A photographic film processor comprising:

a. a cabinet;

b..a plurality of chambers in said cabinet for holding l iquid materials for processing said film;

c. each of said chambers having a bottom opening;

d. a plurality of valves seating respectively in said bottom openings;

e. a vertical rod extending from each of said valves up through said chambers;

f. means for raising said rods for unseating said valves for selectively opening said bottom openings;

g. a funnel below said chambers;

h. a pan having a passageway leading from each of said valves in the bottom of each of said chambers to said funnel to flow said liquid materials from said chambers to said funnel;

i. a film-holding chamber below said funnel for holding edges of said film and providing a small, liquidholding space adjacent the emulsion surface of said film, said chamber being positioned to receive said liquid materials from said funnel; and

j. drain means for draining said liquid materials from said film-holding chamber. 2. A photographic film processor comprising: a. a cabinet;

b. a plurality of chambers in an upper region of said cabinet for holding liquid materials forprocessing said film;

c. an electric heating element around each of said chambers;

d. means for energizing said heating elements for controlling the temperature of said liquid material in said chambers;

e. a solenoid-actuated valve in the bottom of each of said chambers;

f. a funnel below said chambers;

g. a pan having a passageway leading from each of said solenoid-actuated valves in the bottom of each of said chambers to said funnel to flow said heated liquid materials from said chambers to said funnel;

h. a film-holding chamber below said funnel for holding edges of said film and providing a small, liquidholding space adjacent the emulsion surface of said film, said chamber being positioned to receive said heated liquid materials from said funnel;

i. means for agitating said film-holding chamber to contact said emulsion surface of said film with said heated liquid materials;

j. drain means for draining said liquid materials from said film-holdingchamber;

k. electric timer switch means having a pre-selected program for opening and closing said solenoidactuated valves; and

1. said drain means includes a solenoid-actuated drain valve controlled by said timer switch means in said program.

3. The processor of claim 2 wherein said temperature control means includes means for selectively and individually controlling the temperature of each of said chambers.

4. The processor of claim 2 including driven means for loading said film into said film-holding chamber.

5. The processor of claim 2 wherein said agitating means is motor driven and controlled by said timer switch means in said program.

6. The processor of claim 2 wherein said timer switch means includes means for'selectively varying'said program.

7. The processor of claim 2 wherein said drain means includes a plurality of receptacles forsaid materials and means indexed by said timer switch means in said program for sequentially positioning said receptacles under said drain valve to receive said materials.

8. The processor of claim 7 wherein said timer switch means includes means for selectively varying said program.

9. The processor of claim 8 including driven means for loading said film into said film-holding chamber and wherein said agitating means is motor-driven and controlled by said timer switch means in said program.

10. The processor of claim 9 wherein said temperature control means includes means for selectively and individually controlling the temperatures of each of said chambers. 

1. A photographic film processor comprising: a. a cabinet; b. a plurality of chambers in said cabinet for holding liquid materials for processing said film; c. each of said chambers having a bottom opening; d. a plurality of valves seating respectively in said bottom openings; e. a vertical rod extending from each of said valves up through said chambers; f. means for raising said rods for unseating said valves for selectively opening said bottom openings; g. a funnel below said chambers; h. a pan having a passageway leading from each of said valves in the bottom of each of said chambers to said funnel to flow said liquid materials from said chambers to said funnel; i. a film-holding chamber below said funnel for holding edges of said film and providing a small, liquid-holding space adjacent the emulsion surface of said film, said chamber being positioned to receive said liquid materials from said funnel; and j. drain means for draining said liquid materials from said film-holding chamber.
 2. A photographic film processor comprising: a. a cabinet; b. a plurality of chambers in an upper region of said cabinet for holding liquid materials for processing said film; c. an electric heating element around each of said chambers; d. means for energizing said heating elements for controlling the temperature of said liquid material in said chambers; e. a solenoid-actuated valve in the bottom of each of said chambers; f. a funnel below said chambers; g. a pan having a passageway leading from each of said solenoid-actuated valves in the bottom of each of said chambers to said funnel to flow said heated liquid materials from said chambers to said funnel; h. a film-holding chamber below said funnel for holding edges of said film and providing a small, liquid-holding space adjacent the emulsion surface of said film, said chamber being positioned to receive said heated liquid materials from said funnel; i. means for agitating said film-holding chamber to contact said emulsion surface Of said film with said heated liquid materials; j. drain means for draining said liquid materials from said film-holding chamber; k. electric timer switch means having a pre-selected program for opening and closing said solenoid-actuated valves; and l. said drain means includes a solenoid-actuated drain valve controlled by said timer switch means in said program.
 3. The processor of claim 2 wherein said temperature control means includes means for selectively and individually controlling the temperature of each of said chambers.
 4. The processor of claim 2 including driven means for loading said film into said film-holding chamber.
 5. The processor of claim 2 wherein said agitating means is motor driven and controlled by said timer switch means in said program.
 6. The processor of claim 2 wherein said timer switch means includes means for selectively varying said program.
 7. The processor of claim 2 wherein said drain means includes a plurality of receptacles for said materials and means indexed by said timer switch means in said program for sequentially positioning said receptacles under said drain valve to receive said materials.
 8. The processor of claim 7 wherein said timer switch means includes means for selectively varying said program.
 9. The processor of claim 8 including driven means for loading said film into said film-holding chamber and wherein said agitating means is motor-driven and controlled by said timer switch means in said program.
 10. The processor of claim 9 wherein said temperature control means includes means for selectively and individually controlling the temperatures of each of said chambers. 